Religion in schools: Opt out demand is ‘very low’

Catholic education leaders are asking primary schools to facilitate parents who want their children to opt out of religious education, but claim demand for such options is not great.

A booklet on being more inclusive is being sent to all Catholic primary schools, which make up 89% of all 3,300 in the country, and includes guidelines on allowing pupils to opt out. The issue is particularly pertinent for parents of children at around 1,600 standalone Catholic schools for whom there is no other primary education option within reasonable distance.

The Catholic Schools Partnership (CSP) suggestions are based on best practice in schools catering for a wide diversity of pupils, and include children staying in class during religious education but doing other work. It is also proposed that schools could split the timetabling of religious education between class streams; organise supervised project work in another room if staff member is available; or allow a parent to absent a child from school to receive religious education elsewhere.